Improvement in wood pavements



1.a. FELT.

Patented I an. 2|) 1873.

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JOHN Q. FELT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN WOOD PAVEMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 134,985, dated January 21, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Q. FELT, of Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wood and Ooncrete Pavements 5 and I do declare that the following is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon and being a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective of a section of my improvement.

The nature of this invention relates to an improvement in the class of roadways usually denominated wood pavements, by means of which a cheap, durable, and water-tight covering is obtained for the road. The invention consists in the material and manner of using the same, as more fully hereinafter described.

The grade, having been duly prepared,may be covered with concrete or sand, upon which should be placed a ooring of boards, or any other foundation that will be firm and solid and make a smooth and even surface, conforming to the grade and course of the street, for the wooden blocks to rest upon 5 the blocksA for the pavement to be of good sound timber, of any suitable variety, free from decayed knots or other imperfections indicative of rapid decay, not less than five inches in length and four inches square, set on their ends upon the foundation in rows extending diagonally across the street, and with not less than a half inch or more than one inch space between each block 5 the spaces between the blocks to be filled with coarse clear gravel, and the interstices of the gravel filled with a grout composed of one part of hydraulic cement and four parts of clear sand, made sufficiently liquid to run freely and fill said interstices. After the pavement is completed the surface should be covered to the depth of about one inch with sand or fine gravel.

The advantages I claim for this pavement are as follows: First, its great solidity, the blocks being as firmly held, as though embedded in solid rock, so that it is impossible for the blocks to loosen and impossible for sand or gravel to Work under them. Second, small tendency to decay. Each block standing separate and not touching any other, the Wood will last much longer than when brought into direct juxtaposition-5 and, further, I consider the grout a better preserver of wood than tar or any of the nements now in use known to me. Third, its durability. The tops of the blocks will present a perfectly smooth and even surface for the passage of vehicles over the pavement; and it is impossible for the Wheels of the vehicle to run in the spaces between the blocks, except when driven diagonally across the street. In driving length- Wise or turning in a circle no two wheels can 4be in the spaces at the same time, so that no ruts or grooves are cut in the surface of the pavement. The surface of the pavement being water-tight, n`o water can pass down through the pavement to soften or injure the founda- Witnesses MYeoN H. CHURCH, H. F. EBERTs. 

